This week in the villages: It will be a quieter 4th of July around the villages this year with crowded celebrations cancelled to keep everyone safe. Now, for the good news: playgrounds and more recreational opportunities are opening around the villages. The Town of Clarkstown announced its Summer Concert Series at a new venue. And if you just can’t imagine a July 4th without fireworks, the NY Boulders will have music and Drive-Up Fireworks on Fri, July 3 and Sat, July 4, 2020 at 7:30p.
Independence Day Transportation Schedule Changes
On Sat, July 4, 2020, Hudson Link buses will operate on a holiday schedule and Metro-North will operate on Sunday service. TOR will operate Sunday service on #59, 91, 92, 93, and Loop 3. There will be no service on #94, 95, 97, Loop 1, and Loop 2. TOR #92 will detour in Pearl River for a festival. All transportation schedule changes for July 4 may be found on rocklandgov.com.
Village of Nyack
Village Hall Now Open
Nyack Village Hall is now open to the public with limited hours of 9a-1p. The Building Department and Village Administrator’s Office are open by appointment only. Please contact those offices in advance to schedule an appointment. The Village Clerk, Justice Court, Water Dept., and Parking Authority are also available during these hours. A mask is required to enter the building and social distancing rules will be in effect.
Kid’s Eat Free Summer Food Program
The Village of Nyack Summer Food Program is providing free meals when school is out at Waldron Terrace and the Nyack Center. Breakfast and lunch are provided at no charge to all kids under age 18. No sign up, no registration, no ID required. Hours and additional information may be found on nyack-ny.gov.
July Bulk Trash Pickup
Nyack Village Hall and DPW will be closed for the July 4th holiday on Fri, July 3, 2020. The July bulk pickup will be on Fri, July 10, 2020.
Reopening Nyack
The Village of Nyack has put together a “Guide to Reopening Our Village” with information for residents and businesses. It may be found on nyack-ny.gov.
Property Tax Update
Property tax bills will be mailed out during the first week of June. Governor Cuomo has granted a 21 day penalty-free period making the bills due by July 21, 2020. On July 22, 2020, a 5% penalty will be added. An additional 1% penalty will be added on the 1st of the month, every month after, until, and including October. On Nov 1, 2020, all unpaid tax bills will be sent to the county to be relevied onto the county bill in Jan, 2021.
Expedited Outdoor Seating Permit Process
At the May 28, 2020 Nyack Board of Trustees meeting, the Village Board approved a resolution to expedite the outdoor seating permit process for restaurants and businesses. An Outdoor Sidewalk Cafe Application may be found on nyack-ny.gov. For more information, contact the Village of Nyack Building Dept at buildingdepartment@nyack-ny.gov or call 845-358-4249.
Moratorium on Gas Powered Leaf Blowers
The Nyack Village Board recently enacted a moratorium on gas-powered leaf blowers until the end of June, 2020. Residents are requested to please share the landscaper notification with your landscaper. All concerns regarding this moratorium should be directed to Jim Politi, Village Administrator at 845-358-3581. Please do not contact the Orangetown Police Department about leaf blowers.
Village of South Nyack
Sale of Nyack College
There may be no July 4th fireworks in the air, but the sale of Nyack College is creating fireworks over who the prospective buyer is and what will be done with the property. In Nyack College In Contract To Sell To Yeshiva For Up To 300 Students, Rockland County Business Journal’s sources say the buyer plans to house between 200 to 300 students on campus at first, and to eventually develop the site into a family-based yeshiva.
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Village of Upper Nyack
Intermittent Street Closures for Resurfacing of North Broadway
Weather permitting, North Broadway from Nyack Beach State Park to the Upper Nyack Village line will be closed intermittently on Tue, June 30 and Wed, July 1, 2020 for microsurfacing. The closures could be as long as 30 minutes, during which time vehicles will be prevented from entering North Broadway from intersecting streets and driveways. Rockland Coach buses will be diverted during the closure. When the road is open, regular routes will resume.
June 18 Board of Trustees Meeting and June 22 Special Board of Trustees Meeting
In case you missed them, video recordings and transcripts are available for the June 18, 2020 Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting and the June 22, 2020 Special Meeting of the Village Board of Trustees.
Leaf Bag and Bulk Pickup Delays
Due to the DPW making preparations for road work in the Village of Upper Nyack, your leaf bag and bulk pickup may take longer from June 22 through June 29, 2020.
Town of Orangetown
Parks and Recreation Update
Town parks are open, however the restrooms remain closed. Playgrounds will open up on July 1, 2020. And on June 29, the picnic tables will go out. Permits for sports activities will hopefully start on July 6, 2020. And the Orangetown Department of Parks and Recreation will be holding smaller stand-alone and 2 – 3 hour programs that will keep campers and their staff safe. They are hoping to start in mid July.
Town Hall is Now Open to Visitors
Orangetown Town Hall is now open to all visitors. Guests are asked to wear a mask and maintain social distance within the buildings. Hygienic barriers are in place and there are markings on the floor to help remind you of the need to maintain social distancing. All visitors will be required to sign a visitor log.
Reopening Businesses
The Town of Orangetown is currently in Phase 3 of the NY Forward reopening plan. If you are unsure if your business is allowed to reopen, please visit businessexpress.ny.gov for more information. If you know your business is allowed to reopen and you have yet to fill out your affirmation, please visit the Town of Orangetown’s Kickstart Orangetown Page.
Phase 2 allowed outdoor dining and the Town Board has authorized a Temporary Outdoor Dining Permit. The Temporary Outdoor Dining Application and additional information may be found on orangetown.com. A sketch plan is required to be submitted. Please send an email containing the business name and address to buildingfoils@orangetown.com or through the town’s online system to inquire if an existing site plan and/or survey exists, or you may call 845-359-8410. The building department is open from 7:30a – 5:15p for summer hours, but the building is closed to the public until further notice. All communications must be via phone or email (obzpae@orangetown.com, or directly to your assigned inspector).
Orangetown Highway Department Drop-off Center
The Orangetown Highway Department Drop-off Center is now open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A list of COVID-19 Access Regulations and Safety Guidelines may be found on orangetown.com.
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Town of Clarkstown
Tele-Town Hall Mon, June 29, 2020, 5p (New Day & Time!)
Join Supervisor George Hoehmann for an update on a group telephone call to ask any questions or bring up any concerns you may have. Call 845-203-6304 to join, or watch on FB live.
Playgrounds, Mini Golf Course, and Pickleball Courts to Open on Mon, June 29, 2020
All Town of Clarkstown playgrounds will be open to the public beginning on Mon, June 29, 2020. Signage will be placed at playgrounds reminding visitors to practice social distancing and wear face coverings.
In addition, the Town’s Mini Golf Course at Germonds Park will be open for 18 holes of fun and challenging putts. The cost per golfer is $4 cash and $5 for credit card payment and all clubs and golf balls will be disinfected before issuance. Mini-golf savings books are available for purchase at the Recreation & Parks office. Pickleball courts at Congers Lake Park will also be opened. The courts open at 9a and close at 8:30p weekdays and at 5:30p on weekends and holidays. Tennis courts will be open for doubles play in addition to the previously allowed singles play. Ball fields, basketball courts, bathrooms, and picnic areas remain closed.
Germonds Pool Will Reopen the Week of July 6
Supervisor Hoehmann and the Town Board recently announced Germonds Pool will be opened the week of July 6, 2020 for the summer season. Unfortunately, the Congers Lake Memorial Park and Lake Nanuet pools will not be opening this season, due to a number of factors related to COVID-19.
Germonds Pool will be operated in accordance with the guidelines provided by the New York State Department of Health, which cuts the total capacity of the pool complex by 50% and limits the size of groups within the pool complex to gatherings of no more than 10, while requiring each person maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from any non-family individuals. Therefore, no more than 900 people can be within the Germonds Pool complex at any given time.
The pool is open to residents only. No guests of residents will be admitted. All residents must register for a Daily Pool Pass ($25 per swimmer), which entitles the card holder the ability to pay the daily rate. The daily rate for swimmers 12 and older is $6 or $5 for children. The pool will be open for seniors ONLY from 8 to 9:30a, and general admission hours are 10a to 7:45p, 7 days a week. Swimmers will be able to reserve and pay for daily admission 48 hours in advance, through the Community Pass website.
The opening of Germonds Pool creates an opportunity for those interested in summer employment as a lifeguard, especially at the end of the season when there is a great need for it. Interested individuals should fill out an application or call 845-639-6200 for more information.
Town of Clarkstown Summer Concert Series
The Town of Clarkstown is pleased to announce its 2020 summer concert series. In order to ensure proper social distancing, all concerts will be held at the Lake Nanuet Ballfield except where noted below. Appropriate spacing will be maintained and it is suggested for masks to be worn. The town will have masks available upon entrance for those who need them. In case of inclement weather, all concerts will be held indoors at the Pascack Community Center at reduced capacity. Residents should bring their own chairs.
All Concerts are from 7:30p – 9:00p
- Wed, July 8 – Mighty Spectrum Band
- Tue, July 14 – Country Fresh (Location: Congers Station Park)
- Wed, July 15 – Amish Outlaws
- Wed, July 22 – Celtic Cross
- Wed, July 29 – The Benjamins
- Thurs, July 30 – Kick Start Charlie (Location: Nanuet Train Station)
- Tue, Aug 4 – The Nerds
- Wed, Aug 12 – The Cameos
- wed, Aug 19 – B-Street Band
Clarkstown Community Power
The Town of Clarkstown is excited to announce a program that increases the community’s access to 100% renewable electricity, while lowering the electricity costs of residents and small businesses. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a community solar program will be launched to raise money for local COVID-19 relief efforts. For each enrollment in community solar, its partner will donate $50 to Rockland Community Foundation. Community solar allows you to tap into the benefits of solar without needing to install your own panels. If you have your own solar panels, you already receive solar credits and are not eligible to enroll in community solar. To learn more about this program, please visit rocklandcommunitypower.com.
Town Board’s Resolution to Expand Outdoor Dining
In a move meant to boost the morale and bottom line of local businesses in Clarkstown, the Town Board recently approved a resolution granting the town’s Building Inspector the ability to grant Temporary Outdoor Dining permits. This will allow, on a case-by-case basis, businesses to utilize underused parking spaces to allow for increased capacity to serve more patrons while spaced for social distancing. If you are interested in applying for a permit for your business, please contact the Building Department.
Reopening Clarkstown: A Helpful Guide for Small Businesses Webinar
The Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce, the New City Chamber of Commerce, and Supervisor George Hoehmann recently hosted a webinar to discuss the process of reopening small businesses after COVID-19 closures. If you missed the webinar, it may be viewed on the Town of Clarkstown YouTube channel. A copy of the powerpoint presentation may be found on town.clarkstown.ny.us.
Rockland County
Preliminary June 23 Primary Election Results
Preliminary results of the June 23 primary election show South Nyack resident Mondaire Jones leading in the 17th Congressional District race, Clarkstown Clerk Justin Sweet leading in the 38th NYS Senate District race, and veteran Congressman Eliot Engel trailing newcomer Jamaal Bowman in the 16th Congressional District. And presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden received 67% of the vote. These results are subject to change once absentee ballots are counted on June 30. See Mondaire, Sweet, Bowman, Biden…Maybe for more on the preliminary counts.
Save the Date – New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) Virtual Public Workshops
As a voting member of the NYMTC, Rockland County is working with its regional partners on NYMTC’s next Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for New York City, the Lower Hudson Valley, and Long Island. On Tue, July 14, 2020 there will be two workshops for the Lower Hudson Valley: Session 1 (12-1:30p) and Session 2 (3-4:30p), and a Region-wide session (7-8:30p).
The RTP is the region’s long-range transportation planning document used to help prioritize vital transportation projects and funding for those projects in the NY Metropolitan region. Please register for one of the workshops or participate by taking the Moving Forward Survey. Additional information about the workshops may be found on rocklandgov.com. And additional information on the RTP may be found on nymtc.org.
Free Mosquito Dunks
To help Rockland County residents reduce the number of mosquitoes on their property, free mosquito dunks will be offered to keep pools and outdoor spas mosquito free. Mosquito Dunks® are small, donut-shaped objects that float on the water’s surface and release bacteria that kill mosquitoes in their larval stage in water before they become flying, biting adults. They are for use in closed or unused private swimming pools and spas and are effective for approximately 30 days. A single dunk will treat an area of about 100 square feet.
Mosquito Dunks® will be available, free of charge, for curbside pickup at the Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Rd, Pomona. The giveaway will begin at 10a on Fri, June 12, 2020, and will continue every Tuesday from 2-3p and every Friday from 10-11a until Oct 30, 2020, or while supplies last. Visit rocklandgov.com for additional information about the program.
Meals On Wheels Needs Volunteers
Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to help with weekly cooler pickup, weekly grocery pickup, frozen meal delivery to senior center members in the Clarkstown area, and daily driving. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these services, please visit mowrockland.org or call (845) 624-6325.
Save the Date: Police & Patrol Officer Civil Service Examination on Sept 26, 2020
Rockland is now accepting applications from candidates interested in a career in law enforcement. A written competitive examination for the Civil Service positions of police officer and patrol officer is scheduled to be held on Sat, Sept 26, 2020, but may be subject to change based on the current health crisis. There are also examinations for Spanish, French/Creole, and Yiddish speaking officers. If interested, applications to take the examination must be received by Wed, July 15, 2020. An online application may be found at mycivilservice.rocklandgov.com. You may also apply by mail at Rockland County Department of Personnel, 50 Sanatorium Rd, Building A, 7th Floor, Pomona, NY 10970. The application fee is $30. For questions, contact the Rockland County Department of Personnel at (845) 364-3737 or at RCPersonnel@co.rockland.ny.us.